Moyes hoping Armstrong can make Preston return

But boss says recalled midfielder is needed at Everton right now

- By PAUL WHEELOCK

on loan at Preston battles with Coventry's Matt Grimes in the Championship last month

DAVID MOYES admits he would like Harrison Armstrong to return on loan to Preston North End by the end of the month.

And the Everton manager has confirmed he has been given the green light to make signings in the January transfer window.

The Blues are currently without seven first-team players with Michael Keane, Kiernan Dews-bury-Hall, Carlos Alcaraz, Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman sidelined through injury and Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye away with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

And while centre-back Keane has “a chance” of returning for tomorrow's home clash with Brent-ford, ahead of that match, Moyes has bolstered his paper-thin squad by recalling Armstrong from his successful loan spell at Preston.